Improvement in pressure-regulators for water-pipes



UNITED STATEs vPATENT OFFICE.,

JONATHAN JOHNSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESSURE-REGULATORS FOR WATER-PIPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,492, dated July 2,1872.

Figure lrepresnts a sectional elevation cen-VY trally and vertically;Fig. 2, a horizontal section; Fig. 3, a cross-section, the former on thelFine A'B, and the latter on the line C D, of

This invention has for its object to control and regulate the flow andthe pressure of water passing from an elevated reservoir through pipesto the drawing-faucets in the different apartments in a house, shop, ormill, whereby the water which is at a high pressure in the supply-pipemay be drawn at'a low pressure from the outlet, and whereby common andlowcost pipes may be employed 'for conducting the water at a lowpressure to all parts of the building, instead of the more expensivepipes necessary to withstand lthe full and high pressure from theelevated reservoir or fountain.

Experiments have demonstrated that in drawing water through pipes from aconsiderably elevated reservor, where the initial pressure is fromtwenty to iifty or one hundred or more pounds to the inch, the extremeforce of the water subjects the user to great inconvenience andannoyance by its uncontrollable spirting and ilaring action against thebottom and sides of the pan, bowl, or sink into which suchstrongly-forced water is drawn 5 and, besides this, if theconducting-pipes are of lead or gatta-percha, or other moderately-strongsubstance, they are liable to be burst and cause great annoyance andinconvenience, and damage tothe structure and the iixtures andfurnishings.

To provide a ready remedy for all the abovenamed diiiiculties,inconveniences, and annoyances, and to render the cheaper conductingpipes as serviceable and as safe as the stronger and more expensivepipes, which, in some instances, Would have to be substituted for theless Vexpensive ones already the convenient eonveyances for water, Iconstruct a suitable pressure-regulator, substantially as hereindescribed, and this, or one or more of these, I apply to thesupply-pipe, (or to connected branchpipes,) and between it and theconductingpipes, and at some convenient place for connectin g the formerwith the latter, either in side or the outside ofthe building. Thispressureregulator consists oi' a strong air-tight case or tank, providedat one end or side with a suitable gate or a valve, a, which, in thepresent instance, is seated to the face of a recessed disk or plate, b,and arranged to cover or uncover an inlet or aperture, c, through thedisk, and opposite, or nearly opposite, the delivery end of thesupply-pipe B, which is connected with or screwed into the end d of thecase. A-

valve-stem or rod, g', extends inward from the gate, and connectsloosely with the end of a lever, h, pivoted between two stands orbrackets, fm. The lever h isiirmly attached to a tloat, C, arrangedwithin the case, as shown. At the opposite end,-or to either side of thetank or case, (or by a`branchpipe,) I apply one or moreconducting-pipes, D, having greater capacity for the delivery of waterthan has the inlet c to supply it to the tank, so as t0 insure therising and falling of the iioat to close or open the valve when drawingor ceasing to draw water. The upper portion of the case or tank abovethe inflowing water, and above and partly around the float, serves foran air-chamber, or to contain air in sufficient quantity to prevent thewater filling the tank, and this is further prevented by means of theexcess of outlet over that of the inlet, which keeps the water, down andallows the air to remain in the tank; and this air-pressure, which maybe of about` fifteen pounds to the inch, regulates the pressure at whichthe water shall flow from the tank whatever may be the pressure throughthe supply-pipe and against the valve or through the inlet c, since theairpressure can be varied by a safety-valve, c', having a Weightedlever, K, shown in Fig. l of the drawing.

When the pressure from thereservoiris great the Weight L is moved tonearer the end of the lever, and the position of the weight is changedto accommodate almost any pressure from the reservoir, and thus regulatethe iiow of Water at almost any desired reasonable pressure through theconducting pipe or pipes andout at faucets thereon. The valve c alsoprovides for the escape of any excess of air in the tank, and thus keepsthe pressure uniform. The injurious action of water-hammers, (socalled,) caused by the sudden stoppage of the flow of Water, is alsoprevented by the use of my improved regulator applied and used asdescribed. The Water from the connected and elevated reservoir passesthrough the supplypipe B and into the tank at the aperture c insufficient quantity to raise the doat, which, by rising, operates thesliding valve a by means of the pivotedlever h connected with the rod g,and closes, or nearly closes, the aperture.

- Opening a faucet in a conducting-pipe allows the Water to flow fromthe tank at rst apparently by air-pressure, and this allows the float tofall and open the valve, or partially uncover the aperture, causingalmost instant supply of Water in the tank, but not in suflicientquantity to fully raise the float and close the valve, as the greatercapacity ofthe outlet to deliver Water keeps it low in the tank andprevents the float rising until the faucet is closed, when the Waterfrom the supply-pipe gradually rises in the tank and raises the iioat,and closes, or partially closes, the aperture c, as before, leaving theWater in the tank at a pressure according to the position of the Weighton the beam or lever K, and the oat ready to fall and open the valveWhenever Water is dra-wn from a conducting-pipe.

Pipes intended to supply Water to apartments on different floors in abuilding should each be furnished With a separate regulator, having itslever K Weighted differently, orthe Weight in a different position onthe lever, so as to keep the air-pressure in each tank proportionate tothe height or distance between the regulator and the outlet.

Instead of the valve a for opening and closing the aperture c, abalanced double puppetvalve, or any other common valve, arranged andconnected with and operated by the rising and falling oat, may besubstituted for the one shown and described and still retain theprinciples and merits of my said invention.

When the pressure of Water in the supplypipe is limited-say, from ten totwenty or thirty pounds to the inchthe safety-valve c may not be calledinto action; but I consider it best to apply this device, and then theregulator is adapted for varying pressures or Where the pressure isgreater.

I claim- The pressure-regulatorherein described, cousisting of anair-tight tank, A, having induction and eduction pipes B and D, andembracing a combination of the valve a, operated by the lioat C, forgoverning the influx of Water With the valve c,lever K, and Weight L forregulating the pressure at which it is discharged,

all being constructed and arranged as and for the purpose shown and setforth.

JONATHAN JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. ABEL, JOHN E. CRANE.

